Mechanical lift vehicle and installation comprising this vehicle

ABSTRACT

The vehicle comprises ( 1 ) a suspension ( 4 ) presenting an upper end ( 6 ) from which is transversely extended a portion ( 8 ) of hanging to an aerial carrying and hauling cable ( 10 ), and a controller ( 12 ), to control a predetermined technical function. Moreover, the vehicle ( 1 ) comprises an offset arm ( 14 ), extending in a transverse plane, from one side of the upper end ( 6 ) opposite to that from which the hanging portion ( 8 ) is extended, the offset arm ( 14 ) presenting a proximal end arranged at the height of the upper end ( 6 ) and a distal end supporting the controller ( 12 ), an abutment member ( 16 ), and connecting means, connecting the proximal end of the offset arm ( 14 ) and the suspension ( 4 ), the connecting means enabling displacement of the offset arm ( 14 ) in the transverse plane.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a mechanical lift vehicle and a mechanical lift installation comprising this vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a mechanical lift installation allows passengers, skiers or pedestrians, to ascend or to descend slopes. A mechanical lift installation includes generally two end stations, a station placed at the bottom of the slope and a station placed at the top of the slope. These end stations are connected by an aerial carrying and hauling cable which can form a closed loop. It is known to drive the cable through pulleys and to support it by means of pylons. Vehicles suspended from the cable allow transporting passengers from an end station to another.

When the cable forms a closed loop, each end station may include an area for both embarking and disembarking passengers. The mechanical lift installation gives thus the possibility to transport simultaneously passengers ascending or descending the slope.

Mechanical lift vehicles may or may not be disengageable. When they are disengageable, vehicles may be detached from the cable from which they are suspended in order to be transported towards a secondary itinerary when they arrive at an embarking or a disembarking area. On the secondary itinerary, vehicle speed is reduced to facilitate passengers embarking or disembarking, thus providing more comfort and safety. When vehicles are not disengageable, they remain permanently on the cable from which they are suspended. In this case, the absence of the disengaging system gives a mechanical lift installation with a simpler structure.

Many types of mechanical lifts are distinguished: drag lifts (users are hauled by a tackle, skis remaining in contact with the ground), the aerial transport vehicles with cable cars, gondolas and chairlifts, among others (users transported without contact with the ground).

Moreover, chairlift vehicles comprise traditionally a movable guard-rail between a high position wherein the guard-rail releases a space to allow passengers embarking or disembarking, and a low position wherein the guard-rail forms an obstacle to prevent passengers from falling.

To ensure a high level of security when chairlift vehicle transits between end stations, it is known from patent document WO 2012/080603 to lock the guard-rail in the lower position when the vehicle is displaced between both end stations, and to unlock the guard-rail when the vehicle is in an end station for allowing passengers to embark or disembark. As it is described in patent document WO 2012/080603, guard-rail locking means may comprise an electromagnet cooperating with a magnetizable member, the electromagnet being electrically connected with electrical conductors on-board the vehicle. The supply or not of the electromagnet via on-board conductors allows exerting or not an attraction of the magnetizable member in order to lock or unlock the guard-rail.

This solution works in particular with a sequential supply device, as described in patent document FR 2 937 938, comprising a stationary electrical conductor having a plurality of flexible conductive contact wires forming a conductive brush, and a movable conductor on-broad the vehicle allowing to establish an electrical contact when the movable conductor comes into contact with wires of the conductive brush.

However, this sequential supply device is difficult to adapt to old installations. Indeed, for reasons of original dimensioning of these installations, it is not possible to add mechanical stresses on the structural elements of the mechanical lift seats.

Patent document WO 2012/095606 overcomes this inconvenience by proposing a movable support structure of conductive brushes to carry out a sequential supply of vehicles. this movable structure comprises a movable suspended arm fitting the oscillating movements of the suspension to maintain an electrical contact without mechanically stressing the suspension of the mechanical lift seats.

However, the weight of this movable structure may sometimes require the addition of a support pylon. Depending on cases, the addition of this support pylon may be complicated and/or expansive to implement.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention aims to overcome this inconvenience by providing a mechanical lift vehicle and a mechanical lift installation giving the establishment of a reliable control of a predetermined technical function, without mechanically stressing the suspension of the vehicle, with a relatively low mass to limit the implementation complexity and costs, and requiring little maintenance.

A mechanical lift vehicle is provided comprising a suspension, the suspension presenting an upper end from which is transversely extended a hanging portion which is intended to suspend the mechanical lift vehicle from an aerial carrying and hauling cable, and a controller which is intended to control a predetermined technical function of the mechanical lift vehicle, characterized in that the mechanical lift vehicle comprises

an offset arm, extending in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, from one side of the upper end opposite to that from which the hanging portion is extended, the offset arm having a proximal end arranged at the height of the upper end of the suspension and a distal side supporting the controller.

an abutment member against which the offset arm is intended to bear, and

connecting means which connect the proximal end of the offset arm and the suspension, the connecting means enabling displacement of the offset arm in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle,

so that the offset arm is movable with respect to the suspension between a pre-engagement position, wherein the offset arm, bearing on the abutment member, is intended to come into contact with a guide ramp of mechanical lift installation, and an engagement position wherein offset arm, at a distance from the abutment member, is intended to slide along the guide ramp so that the controller allows carrying out the predetermined technical function.

Thus, the mechanical lift vehicle according to the invention gives the possibility to establish a reliable control which is independent from the suspension oscillations, caused by an eccentric load or a strong crosswind, and this without guidance or any other form of mechanic stress of the suspension, without substantial heaviness of the vehicle or the installation, and without a particular implementation complexity, such that the invention may be used for old as well as for recent installations, with disengageable or non disengageable vehicles.

It will be noted that the arm is arranged at the height of the upper end of the suspension, that is to say where oscillating movements of the suspension are the weakest such that these oscillating movements vary a little bit the position of the offset arm with respect to the guide ramp. This contributes to the contact reliability whatever the inclination of the suspension.

Moreover, offsetting transversally the controller via the offset arm, by moving away from the vertical axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, allows carrying out the control of the predetermined technical function far from the suspension. Thus, this is not likely to come into contact with the guide ramp arranged on the offset arm path, even when the suspension oscillates under the effect of a strong crosswind or an eccentric load. The result is an absolute freedom of the suspension movement, which can be neither guided nor mechanically stressed during displacement of the mechanical lift vehicle.

Finally, the extension of the offset arm on the opposite side to that from which the hanging portion is extended, allows avoiding that the aerial carrying and hauling cable forms a possible obstacle to the displacement of the offset arm, for a greater contact reliability.

According to an embodiment, the controller is formed of two electrical conductors, substantially cylindrical, aligned along the arm and each intended to cooperate with a row of electrically conductive brushes of the mechanical lift installation, the electrical conductors being spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance to avoid that both electrical conductors come into contact with the same row of electrically conductive brushes.

This characteristic has the advantage of allowing the establishment of a reliable electrical contact between the mechanical lift installation and the mechanical lift vehicle.

Advantageously, the offset arm and the abutment member are arranged relative to one another so that the offset arm is recalled to the pre-engagement position against the abutment member only under the effect of the gravity.

In other words, the mechanical lift vehicle is devoid of recall means intended to recall in an active way the offset arm in the pre-engagement position.

This characteristic has the advantage of limiting the number of pieces. The result is both a limited mass and a reduced need of maintenance.

According to one embodiment, connecting means comprise a pivot connection P1, with an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, enabling a rotation of the offset arm with respect to the suspension in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle.

The pivot connection has the advantage of a simple and reliable solution to enable displacement of the offset arm.

According to one possibility, the connecting means comprise a flexible longitudinal element whose distal end is fastened to a proximal end of the offset arm and whose proximal end is stationary with respect to the suspension, the flexion of the flexible longitudinal element enabling displacement of the offset arm in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle.

This characteristic has the advantage eliminating the need of a mechanical connection, as an articulation, between the offset arm and the suspension, so that this connection requires less maintenance.

Advantageously, the connecting means comprise a connection arm, fixed against the suspension, the connection arm presenting a distal end is connected to the proximal end of the offset arm, and an oblique portion extending to its distal end, on which the abutment member is fixed, the oblique portion being configured so that an intermediate portion of the offset arm, comprised between its proximal end and its distal end, is supported by the abutment member in pre-engagement position.

The use of a connection arm for indirectly connecting the offset arm to the suspension has the advantage of being able to adapt the solution to old installations and mechanical lift vehicles.

The invention also concerns a mechanical lift installation, comprising two end stations connected by an aerial carrying and hauling cable, a mechanical lift vehicle having the aforementioned characteristics, and a guide ramp arranged substantially parallel to the aerial carrying and hauling cable, on the offset arm path of the mechanical lift vehicle, so that the passage of the mechanical lift vehicle at the guide ramp causes the displacement of the offset arm by the sliding of the latter along the guide ramp, and consequently the carrying out of the predetermined technical function.

Advantageously, the guide ramp is arranged in or in the immediate proximity of an embarking area and/or in or in the immediate proximity of a disembarking area of one of the end stations.

According to one possibility, the mechanical lift installation is a non disengageable type installation.

Nevertheless, the mechanical lift installation may be of the disengageable type.

According to one possibility, the mechanical lift installation comprises a mechanical lift vehicle having the aforementioned characteristics and comprises two rows of conductive brushes substantially parallel to each other and to the aerial carrying and hauling cable, both of conductive brushes rows being arranged above and/or below the guide ramp to come into contact with one of the electrical conductors when the offset arm slides along the guide ramp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mechanical lift vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a front view of a mechanical lift vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of a detail of a mechanical lift vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a schematic view above a mechanical lift installation comprising a mechanical lift vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a mechanical lift vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, in particular an aerial transport vehicle, in this case a mechanical lift seat. This mechanical lift seat can comprise a movable guard-rail 2 between a high position wherein the guard-rail 2 releases a space to allow passengers embarking or disembarking, and a low position wherein the guard-rail 2 forms an obstacle to prevent passengers from falling. High and low positions are simultaneously represented in FIG. 1.

It is to be specified that the description is carried out with respect to a Cartesian reference frame, visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, related to the mechanical lift vehicle 1, the X axis being orientated in a longitudinal direction of the mechanical lift vehicle 1, the Y axis being orientated in a transverse direction of the mechanical lift vehicle 1, and the Z axis being orientated in a vertical direction of the mechanical lift vehicle 1. Longitudinal, transverse or vertical, front, back, top, bottom displacements orientations, directions, planes are thus defined with respect to this reference frame.

As it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mechanical lift seat comprises a suspension 4. The suspension 4 have an upper end 6, particularly visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, from which a hanging portion 8 is transversally extended, that is to say, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the X axis. The hanging portion 8 is intended to suspend the mechanical lift seat to an aerial carrying and hauling cable 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

It should be noted that the upper end 6 of the suspension 4 corresponds to the top part of the suspension 4, as opposed to the lower end of the suspension 4, or bottom part, which is fastened to the mechanical lift vehicle 1 armature, as shown in FIG. 2.

The mechanical lift seat comprises also a controller 12, an offset arm 14, an abutment member 16 and a connecting device, connecting the offset arm 14 and the suspension 4, which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The controller 12 is intended to control a predetermined technical function. According to embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the controller 12 corresponds to an electric sensor, formed by two electrical conductors 18, substantially cylindrical, aligned along the offset arm 14 and each intended to cooperate with a row of electrically conductive brushes 20 of a mechanical lift installation 100.

As it is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the electrical conductors 18 are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance to avoid that both electrical conductors 18 come into contact with the same row of electrically conductive brushes 20.

The electrically conductive brushes 20 may be formed of a plurality of flexible conductive wires whose free end is intended to rub against one of the electrical conductors 18 to establish an electrical connection between the mechanical lift installation 100 and the mechanical lift seat.

This electrical connection allows controlling the carrying out of the predetermined technical function, corresponding for example to the magnetic unlock of the guard-rail 2, as described in patent document WO 2012/080603. Thus, the electrical conductors 18 belong to an electric circuit intended to be supplied via electrically conductive brushes 20 to control for example the reset of the locking and the unlocking of a guard-rail 2 of the mechanical lift seat.

The offset arm 14 extends in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal Y axis of the mechanical lift seat. The offset arm 14 extends further from a side of the upper end 6 opposite to that from which the hanging portion 8 is extended.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the offset arm 14 has a proximal end, arranged at the height of the upper end 6 of the suspension 4, and a distal end supporting the controller 12.

It should be noted that the offset arm 14 may be only dedicated to the offset of the controller 12 in order to allow displacement of the controller 12 upon the contact with the guide ramp 104.

The abutment member 16 is intended to receive as a bearing the offset arm 14. It should be noted that the offset arm 14 and the abutment member 16 may be arranged relative to each other so that the offset arm 14 is recalled in the pre-engagement position against the abutment member 16 only under the effect of the gravity. The abutment member 16 is for example arranged under the offset arm 14 to support the latter.

The connecting device connects directly or indirectly the proximal end of the offset arm 14 and the suspension 4, while enabling displacement, in particular ascending or descending, of the offset arm 14 in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the Y longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift seat.

Thus, the offset arm 14 is movable with respect to the suspension 4 between a pre-engagement position (not shown), wherein the offset arm 14 is bearing on the abutment member 16 and is intended to come into contact with a guide ramp 104 of the mechanical lift installation 100, and an engagement position (represented in FIGS. 2 to 4) wherein the offset arm 14 is at a distance from the abutment member 16, and slides along the guide ramp 104 so as the controller 12 allows to carry out the predetermined technical function. According to the example of FIGS. 2 to 4, in the engagement position, the electrical conductors 18 rub against the electrically conductive brushes 20 rows. Thus, in the engagement position, an electrical connection is established between the mechanical lift installation 100 and the mechanical lift seat.

It should be noted that, in the engagement position, the offset arm 14 may be substantially horizontal and that, in the pre-engagement position, the offset arm 14 may be inclined with respect to the horizontal, by forming with the horizontal an angle substantially lower than 45°, in particular lower than 30°, and preferably lower than 15°. This limits the movement of the offset arm 14 between the pre-engagement position and the engagement position, for a minimum mechanical stress. Having a horizontal offset arm 14 in the engagement position allows also where appropriate to align horizontally the electrical conductors 18 in order to guarantee a reliable electrical contact.

According to the example of FIG. 3, the connecting device comprises a pivot connection P1, with an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal X axis of the mechanical lift seat.

According to the example of FIG. 4, the connecting device comprises a flexible longitudinal element 22 whose distal end is fastened to the proximal end of the offset arm 14 and whose proximal end is fixed with respect to the suspension 4. The flexible longitudinal element 22 corresponds for example to a spring leaf, for example metallic or made of composite material, so that the metal longitudinal element 22 gives the flexibility required while having the particularity of firmly supporting the offset arm 14 when this one is at a distance from the guide ramp 104.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connecting device may comprise a connection arm 24. The connection arm 24 is fixed against the suspension 4. It has a distal end connected to the proximal end of the offset arm 14, and an oblique portion 26 extending to this distal end. The abutment member 16 here is fixed on the oblique portion 26, this one being configured so that an intermediate portion of the offset arm 14, that is to say a portion comprised between the proximal end and the distal end of the offset arm 14, is supported by the abutment member 16 in the pre-engagement position. The connection arm 24 may optionally fit the shape of the suspension 4 and be aligned along the latter.

It should be noted that the distal end of connection arm 24 may be connected to the proximal end of the offset arm 14 either directly by the pivot connection P1, or indirectly via the flexible element 22. Where appropriate, the proximal end of the flexible element 22 is fixed to the distal end of the connection arm 24.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the oblique portion 26 may extend substantially transversally, in a direction substantially opposite to that in which the offset arm 14 is extended.

The invention also concerns a mechanical lift installation 100, comprising two end stations 102, represented in FIG. 5, connected by an aerial carrying and hauling cable 10, a mechanical lift vehicle 1 as previously described, in particular a mechanical lift seat, and a guide ramp 104 arranged substantially parallel to the aerial carrying and hauling cable 10, on the offset arm 14 path of the mechanical lift vehicle 1, so that the passage of the mechanical lift vehicle 1 at the guide ramp 104 causes the displacement of the offset arm 14 by the sliding of the latter along the guide ramp 104, and consequently the carrying out of the predetermined technical function, as the reset of the locking or the unlocking of the guard-rail 2.

The aerial carrying and hauling cable 10 is for example supported by pylons (not represented) and hauled by pulleys 106 arranged at each end station 102.

The guide ramp 104 may be arranged in an embarking area 108 and/or in a disembarking area 110 of one of the end stations 102.

The guide ramp 104 may be arranged also in an area (not represented) close to the disembarking area 110 of one of the end stations 102, for example, in front of the disembarking area 110, in the immediate proximity of the latter, to allow the users to unlock for example the guard-rail 2 early enough and, once the guard-rail 2 is unlocked, to provide them enough time to raise it before leaving the vehicle 1.

The guide ramp 104 may comprise a first inclined portion 112 arranged on the offset arm 14 path for guiding the offset arm 14 to a main portion 114 substantially parallel to the aerial carrying and hauling cable 10.

According to the example of FIGS. 1 to 5, the mechanical lift installation 100 comprises two rows of conductive brushes 20 substantially parallel together and to the aerial carrying and hauling cable 10, both rows of conductive brushes 20 may be arranged above the guide ramp 104 to come into contact with one of the electrical conductors 18 when the offset arm 14 slides along the guide ramp 104.

Both rows of conductive brushes 20 are fixed for example on the guide ramp 104.

Where appropriate, both rows of conductive brushes 20 are arranged above and/or below the main portion 114.

It should be noted that the mechanical lift installation 100 may correspond to a non disengageable type installation 100. In other words, the mechanical lift installation 100 is devoid of disengaging system of the mechanical lift vehicle 1.

Obviously, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described above, this embodiment having been given only as an example. Modifications are possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by the substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the protection field of the invention.

Thus, the invention is not limited to the mechanical lift seats; it may be applied for example on gondola type mechanical lift vehicles 1.

Moreover, the predetermined technical function carried out by the displacement of the offset arm 14 in the engagement position may correspond to another function than the locking or the unlocking of a guard rail 2, as for example the opening of one or several door(s) of a cabin.

Finally, the controller 12 may correspond, instead an on-board electric sensor, to another type of control, as a cable-control or a hydraulic control. 

1. A mechanical lift vehicle comprising a suspension including an upper end from which is transversely extended a hanging portion which is intended to suspend the mechanical lift vehicle from an aerial carrying and hauling cable, and a controller which is intended to control a predetermined technical function of the mechanical lift vehicle; an offset arm, extending in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, from one side of the upper end opposite to that from which the hanging portion is extended, the offset arm having a proximal end arranged at a height of the upper end of the suspension and a distal end supporting the controller; an abutment member against which the offset arm is intended to bear; and a connecting device which connects the proximal end of the offset arm and the suspension, the connecting device enabling displacement of the offset arm in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, wherein the offset arm is movable with respect to the suspension between a pre-engagement position, where the offset arm, bearing on the abutment member, is intended to come into contact with a guide ramp of a mechanical lift installation, and an engagement position wherein the offset arm, at a distance from the abutment member, is intended to slide along the guide ramp so that the controller allows carrying out the predetermined technical function.
 2. The mechanical lift vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the controller is formed of two electrical conductors, substantially cylindrical, aligned along the arm and each intended to cooperate with a row of electrically conductive brushes of the mechanical lift installation, the electrical conductors being spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance to avoid that both electrical conductors come into contact with the same row of electrically conductive brushes.
 3. The mechanical lift vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the offset arm and the abutment member are arranged relative to one another so that the offset arm is recalled in the pre-engagement position against the abutment member only under the effect of the gravity.
 4. The mechanical lift vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a pivot connection, with an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, enabling a rotation of the offset arm with respect to the suspension in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle.
 5. The mechanical lift vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a flexible longitudinal element whose distal end is fastened to the proximal end of the offset arm and whose proximal end is stationary with respect to the suspension, the flexion of the flexible longitudinal element enabling displacement of the offset arm in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle.
 6. The mechanical lift vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a connection arm, fixed against the suspension, the connection arm presenting a distal end is connected to the proximal end of the offset arm, and an oblique portion extending to its distal end, on which the abutment member is fixed, the oblique portion being configured so that an intermediate portion of the offset arm, comprised between its proximal end and its distal end, is supported by the abutment member in a pre-engagement position.
 7. A mechanical lift installation, comprising two end stations connected by an aerial carrying and hauling cable, a mechanical lift vehicle according to claim 1, and a guide ramp arranged substantially parallel to the aerial carrying and hauling cable, on the offset arm path of the mechanical lift vehicle, so that the passage of the mechanical lift vehicle at the guide ramp causes displacement of the offset arm by the sliding of the latter along the guide ramp, and consequently the carrying out of the predetermined technical function.
 8. The mechanical lift installation according to claim 7, wherein the guide ramp is arranged in or in the immediate proximity of an embarking area and/or in or in the immediate proximity of a disembarking area of one of the end stations.
 9. The mechanical lift installation according to claim 7, comprising a mechanical lift vehicle, wherein the mechanical lift installation comprises two rows of conductive brushes substantially parallel together and to the aerial carrying and hauling cable, both conductive brushes rows being arranged above and/or below the guide ramp to come into contact with one of the electrical conductors when the offset arm slides along the guide ramp. 